Story Highlights

Before the 2012 season is put in the rearview mirror and the hot stove is turned up to full blast, it is time to hand out the individual awards for most valuable player, Cy Young, rookie of the year and manager of the year in the American and National leagues. Much like the Baseball Writers' Association of America, our panel of 11 USA TODAY Sports baseball writers and editors voted before the postseason began. The panel's conclusion: There were tough calls but not necessarily in the one category that garnered the most attention in the season's final days.

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American League MVP

Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers: Being the first Triple Crown winner since 1967 seemed like grounds for a slam-dunk selection — although only six of the 11 Triple Crown seasons were rewarded with the MVP award — but a strong case was made for Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout.

With our panel, though, Cabrera was a clear winner behind his .330 batting average, 44 home runs and 139 RBI and the Tigers' run to the American League Central title. He also was second in runs with 109. Cabrera was first on nine ballots and second on two; Trout was first on two ballots, second on eight and third on one.

Trout, the 21-year-old phenom, become the first player to finish a season with at least 45 steals, 125 runs and 30 homers, according to Major League Baseball. He hit .326 with 30 home runs, 83 RBI and 49 stolen bases. He also was responsible for many highlight-reel plays that he at times made look routine.

Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers was third with a .321 average, 36 home runs and 102 RBI as the Rangers made the postseason for the third consecutive year.

Teammate Josh Hamilton was fourth in the voting. He was second in the AL in RBI with 128 and tied for second in home runs with 43, although he missed a stretch in late September with a sinus infection that could have pushed him to the home run title.

The New York Yankees' Robinson Cano finished fifth. He hit .313 and was third in the AL with 196 hits.

Voting was tabulated with 14 points for first place, nine for second, eight for third, etc.

Player (first-place votes)/Votes

Miguel Cabrera, Tigers (9)/144

Mike Trout, Angels (2)/107

Adrian Beltre, Rangers/79

Josh Hamilton, Rangers/65

Robinson Cano, Yankees/48

Prince Fielder, Tigers/45

Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays/40

Adam Jones, Orioles/22

Derek Jeter, Yankees/20

Yoenis Cespedes, Athletics/16

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National League MVP

Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants: After having his 2011 season ended by a gruesome leg injury, Posey came back to lead the major leagues in batting average at .336 and lead the NL in WAR (wins over replacement). He was second in the NL in on-base percentage (.408) and fourth in slugging (.549).

Posey received nine of the 11 first-place votes, with the others going to Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun, who led the NL with 41 home runs and was second with 112 RBI. He also was tops in on-base-slugging percentage (.987).

Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen, third in the voting, was second in batting average at .327 and runs (107) and led the NL in hits (194).

Voting is on a 14-9-8-7, etc., basis.

Player (first place votes)/Votes

Buster Posey, Giants (9)/143

Ryan Braun, Brewers (2)/105

Andrew McCutchen, Pirates/87

Yadier Molina, Cardinals/64

Chase Headley, Padres/43

Matt Holliday, Cardinals/40

David Wright, Mets/27

Aramis Ramirez, Brewers/26

Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins/22

(tie) Joey Votto, Reds/22

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AL Cy Young Award

Justin Verlander, Tigers: In the closest of our awards, Verlander edged the Tampa Bay Rays' David Price to pick up his second consecutive Cy Young nod from our panel.

Verlander received six first-place votes, was second on three ballots and third on two others. Price received the remaining five first-place votes and was second on five and third on one.

Verlander went 17-8 with a 2.64 ERA with a league-best six complete games. He led the league with 239 strikeouts and 2381/3 innings pitched.

Price was one of four 20-game winners in the big leagues and was second in the majors with a 2.56 ERA. He went 20-5, striking out 205 and walking 59 in 211 innings.

The Angels' Jered Weaver, 20-5 with a 2.81 ERA, was third.

Voting on a 7-4-3-2-1 basis.

Player (first-place votes)/Votes

Justin Verlander, Tigers (6)/60

David Price, Rays (5)/58

Jered Weaver, Angels/35

Felix Hernandez, Mariners/11

Fernando Rodney, Rays/9

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NL Cy Young Award

R.A. Dickey, New York Mets: The former journeyman knuckleballer recorded 20 of the Mets' 74 victories and was the clear winner. Dickey went 20-6 with a 2.73 ERA and tied for the National League in starts (33), complete games (five), shutouts (three), innings pitched (2332/3) and strikeouts (230).

Washington Nationals right-hander Gio Gonzalez received the other three first-place votes and finished second. Dickey was second on the ballots that had Gonzalez first. Gonzalez led the NL in wins and finished 21-8 with a 2.89 ERA.

Voting is on a 7-4-3-2-1 basis.

Player (first-place votes)/Votes

R.A. Dickey, Mets (8)/68

Gio Gonzalez, Nationals (3)/47

Johnny Cueto, Reds/29

Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers/25

Matt Cain, Giants/12

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AL rookie of the year

Mike Trout, Angels: Well, this one was pretty much a given, especially when you consider Trout could have been the MVP. He figures to get many more chances at that one but gets only one chance at being the top rookie. Trout received all 11-first place votes, and only four players got mentions.

Yoenis Cespedes of the Oakland Athletics received nine of the second-place votes. The 27-year-old from Cuba hit .292 with 23 home runs and 83 RBI.

Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish was third. He went 16-9 with a 3.90 ERA in 29 starts.

Buck Showalter, Baltimore Orioles: Showalter, whose Orioles made a surprising second-half surge to make the playoffs for the first time in 15 years and won 93 games, is the choice.

He and the Athletics' Bob Melvin each had five first-place votes, but Melvin was not on one ballot. The Athletics, fueled by their pitching, won 94 games and the AL West title.

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, whose team had the best record in the American League, earned the other first-place vote.

Voting is on a 5-3-1 basis.

Player (first-place votes)/Votes

Buck Showalter, Orioles (5)/41

Bob Melvin, Athletics (5)/37

Robin Ventura, White Sox/6

Joe Girardi, Yankees (1)/5

Joe Maddon, Rays/4

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NL manager of the year

Davey Johnson, Nationals: After his team finished with the best record in baseball, Johnson was the panel's choice for the NL's top manager. The Nationals went from 80 wins in 2011 to 98 in 2012 and led the NL East almost the entire way.

Johnson, who was first or second on all 11 ballots, melded a group of veterans and young stars and navigated the drama surrounding the shutdown of Stephen Strasburg.

Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker received three first-place votes. The Reds won 97 games after winning 79 in 2011.